Overview
- Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, will meet Iranian officials on Thursday to revive mediation and push for freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran and Oman say they have advanced technical talks on a temporary shipping corridor and coordinated mine‑clearing, but officials give conflicting accounts about whether any revenue‑sharing or formal deal has been finalised.
- The United States has shifted to an intensified sanctions campaign described by officials as an 'economic D-Day' that targets countries and firms that help Iran evade penalties.
- Commercial trackers show transit volumes through the strait have fallen to about 5 million barrels per day from roughly 20 million before the war, and maritime safety remains in doubt because of verified incidents and disputed claims that mines have been cleared.
- What to watch next: confirmation of any Iran‑Oman agreement details, independent verification of mine clearance, whether Doha can bridge Washington and Tehran, and near‑term market responses to any changes in transit or sanctions enforcement.